Short Guides
Short Guide No 2: What Types of Hymns and Songs are Available?
Once, it was “hymns”. In recent years, many churches have adopted “worship songs” – sometimes alongside hymns, sometimes instead. Inevitably,…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 3: Which Hymns and Songs Should we Use?
Have you been asked to put together a worship service, such as a Sunday morning or evening church service? Then…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 5: How Can We Encourage the Use of Hymns in Worship?
Some ideas to be shared with worship leaders Have a suitable range of hymns available to illustrate the session. A…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 7: What are the Best Places to Find Hymns on Specific Subjects?
Hymns for worship usually follow a general pattern, either being necessary at a particular place in the liturgy or, in…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 9: Our Musical Resources are Limited; What Can We Sing?
Successful congregational singing entails careful, imaginative organisation. We need not emulate the local choral society but our singing must be…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 12: How can we Introduce New Hymns and Songs?
New hymns and songs can be introduced in a variety of ways, depending on both the style of the item…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 14: Building a Hymn Repertoire
Even with a single hymn book, a typical congregation probably has more hymns at their disposal than they can realistically…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 15: How does the choice of tune affect a hymn?
It is a truism that words and music fit together like a horse and carriage and that each relies on…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 16: What are the Relative Benefits of Hymn Books, Service Sheets or Projectors?
Developments in technology have expanded the range of ways in which hymns can be presented during a service. No longer…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 17: What are the Arguments For and Against Revising Hymn Texts?
‘Nothing changes here’ or ‘All the changing scenes’? Why would we ever ‘revise’ the words of familiar hymns? We do…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 18: Getting Hymns Published
To write one or more hymns and have them used by a congregation to which you belong is one thing;…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 20: Using Short Songs in Worship
The New Testament encourages believers to sing ‘Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs’, suggesting the Body of Christ needs a range…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 21: Wedding Hymns
Many couples still choose to marry in church, yet the combined impact of more choice and the increasing lack of…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 22: Funeral Hymns
Christian funerals take place either in a church or at a crematorium or cemetery chapel. While the circumstances are different…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 23: Baptism Hymns
Baptism can occur in different contexts and at different stages in life, yet the fundamental spiritual and ecclesiological purpose and…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 24: Confirmation Hymns
‘Confirmation’ covers various approaches to Christian initiation and commitment. When adults make a commitment and are received into membership of…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 25: Ordination and Commissioning Hymns
Ordinations and commissioning services happen in a variety of contexts, and are a cause of great celebration and spiritual power.…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 27: Hymns and Ministry to Those with Dementia
Ministering to people who have reached that stage of life when ‘mind and memory flee’ presents serious challenges which cannot…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide No 28: How Choirs Contribute to the Singing and Interpretation of Hymns
How Choirs Contribute to the Singing and Interpretation of Hymns Sing, choirs of angels’; ‘Sing, sing, ye heavenly choir’; ‘How…
Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Short Guide 30 Presenting and Responding to Hymns
Hymns form a significant element of much worship. Although spontaneous singing can occur, most hymn singing is planned in advance.…